Brown signs one-year deal with Panthers

One week after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs, the former Columbus East star has signed with the Carolina Panthers. The defending NFC champions inked Brown to a one-year contract Wednesday.

Brown tweeted following the signing, “wanna thank @Panthers and all the love I’ve been receiving from #panthersnation all mornin time.”

The former Michigan standout was a seventh-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2010. He played 15 games as a rookie that season.

Brown, who has played in 55 regular-season games with 20 starts in his NFL career, actually was with the Panthers for four days prior to the 2011 regular season. He ended up playing that year with the Indianapolis Colts.

Brown’s best season as a pro came in 2012, when he was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week with the New York Giants. The safety recorded 66 tackles and led the team with eight interceptions for an NFL-best 307 return yards. He also had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defended.

Primed to build on that success, Brown had a big setback when he tore the ACL in his left knee during the 2013 preseason. He missed all of that season before returning to the Giants in 2014.

Brown signed with the Houston Texans on May 1, 2015, but was cut Aug. 28 of that year. Three days later, he resigned with the Giants but was waived Sept. 7.

The Chiefs signed Brown on April 1 and cut him Aug. 24.

Brown is expected to add depth to a Panthers’ secondary that has been hit hard by injuries. He figures to back up starting safeties Kurt Coleman and Tre Boston while top reserve Dean Marlowe recovers from a hamstring injury.

East coach Bob Gaddis said he has communicated with Brown via text and said Brown told him he has been feeling better than he has in a long time.

“The good thing about Stevie is I know he’s trained and stayed in shape for another shot,” Gaddis said. “He’s obviously a talented young man. I wouldn’t bet against him. We’re all pulling for him here in Columbus.”